In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of scrimmage. The defensive backs, in turn, generally are classified into several different specialized positions:
Safety:
Free Safety - most often the deepest safety
Strong Safety - the bigger more physical safety, much like a small, quicker linebacker
Defensive halfback
Cornerback - which include:
nickel back - the fifth defensive back in some sets, like the Nickel formation
dime back - the sixth defensive back in some sets, like the Dime formation
The seventh defensive back, in the exceedingly rare 'quarter' set
known as a dollar back or a quarter back
The group of defensive backs is known collectively as the secondary. They most often defend the wide receiver corps; however, at times they may also line up against a tight end or a split out running back.
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In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive...
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In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of scrimmage. The defensive backs, in turn, generally are classified into several different specialized positions:
Safety:
Free Safety - most often the deepest safety
Strong Safety - the bigger more physical safety, much like a small, quicker linebacker
Defensive halfback
Cornerback - which include:
nickel back - the fifth defensive back in some sets, like the Nickel formation
dime back - the sixth defensive back in some sets, like the Dime formation
The seventh defensive back, in the exceedingly rare 'quarter' set
known as a dollar back or a quarter back
The group of defensive backs is known collectively as the secondary. They most often defend the wide receiver corps; however, at times they may also line up against a tight end or a split out running back.